isabelle will be two years old tomorrow. on thursday (4 days ago) her and i moved in with my grandparents. they, too, have a cat named monk. she is also female, ~eight years old.

i know that i'm supposed to keep the two of them separated, and that the introduction period is supposed to take a couple of weeks. i've read tutorial after tutorial online, i know i'm supposed to let isabelle smell monk's things, and vice versa. they've caught sight of each other a couple of times very briefly and isabelle hissed/growled/puffed up/was mad, though strangely monk just kind of sits there and meows (loudly). monk never hisses back at isabelle, aside from the meowing (which i can't determine what she's doing it for, is she talking or is that her way of yelling?) so mostly it's just my cat that's looking like an asshole.

in four days, isabelle has become completely comfortable with our new home. i feel as though she recognizes it as her home now (as opposed to "what the **** is this place?!?!"). she is being a little temperamental, easily irritated when i tug on her ears (which, normally, she would just shake her head to get my hand away, she growls instead) but she is still playful and snoozes on the couch when i'm there--obviously this is when monk is elsewhere.

i keep my door propped open a little bit when monk is roaming the living room (they take turns), i have it blocked so neither of them can't get in/out but can still look at each other. monk seems to be very curious, isabelle..well, she just hisses.

i guess i'm just a bit discouraged because this morning isabelle got out, she was climbing out and i just said "welp isabelle, monk is out here so you'll just have to deal" and kind of said screw it...well, isabelle caught sight of monk and attempted to kill her. (perhaps that's an over exaggeration. the play by play: isabelle crouches down and peers around the corner. isabelle catches sight of monk. monk meows. isabelle hisses. isabelle runs after monk. monk runs to hide under a chair. isabelle runs in front of the chair, blocking monk in growling and hissing. this is when kayla stepped in to remove mean bengal.)

i don't understand, really, i only it's been only 4 days but isabelle is used to monk's scent by now, she smells monk and plays with her toys, i use this little light beam i have..she chases it around and i use it as a means to make her become more familiar with the house, i've put it near monk's food/water/litter and then turned the beam off so isabelle could smell everything and she didn't hiss or seem even a little displeased.

what i THOUGHT would happen if isabelle and monk came face-to-face is isabelle would huff and puff and then just kind of ignore her, as she is used to her scent... not attack her!

...it just occurred to me that perhaps isabelle ran after monk/cornered her is because she's trying to show she's the dominant one? is this normal? i've never introduced two FULL GROWN FEMALE cats to each other, the only thing i've ever introduced is a male kitten to a full-grown male kitten and i think that's a bit easier.

what do you think? any insight/suggestions/anything?